Make the most of your ship's mooring time in Picton with a small group wine tasting experience. Collection from Picton i-site by minibus and drive to the Marlborough vineyards in the Wairau Valley. Taste the wines, and enjoy lunch at a vineyard restaurant.
This Shore Excursion Wine Tour is specifically tailored for cruise ship passengers in that we leave at the default time is 9.30am and return to Picton with plenty of time before departure - we do not compromise on that aspect. Departure times will be confirmed in the weeks prior to your visit, when the ship arrival time has been finalised (they sometimes change !)
Free shuttle buses will carry you from the ship to the i-site in < 10 minutes and our minibuses will be waiting in the car park.
Enjoy a lovely 30 minute scenic drive to reach the Marlborough vineyards in the Wairau valley close to Picton. You will visit at least 4 and sometimes 5 cellar doors for tasting - we visit a combination of larger and smaller boutique type wineries to give as wide a variation in aromas / textures as possible. Our tour groups are small and we operate at a leisurely pace.
A stop is made for lunch (own cost) at a vineyard restaurant.
The group returns to Picton at least 90 minutes before sailing. Guests never fail to be impressed by the hand-made gourmet chocolates at the Chocolate Factory, so we usually make a quick stop there on the way home.
We provide snacks and bottled water in the air conditioned mini van.
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